FISHING NOTES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21086, 10 February 1934, Page 4

FISHING NOTES

A SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO OTAGO (BPKCIAXI.T -WEUTTBX TOR 181 I>Rf.SS.) [By BLACK GVAT.] These Note», K-hiclwara written by » fisherman of long npeiience and considerablo theoretical knowled.?i'. will appear ever? Sstur.my. Letters containing news item* or questions, and addiesacd "Biack Gn*t," caro of the Editor of "The Press," will receive prompt attention each week.

The week has been another period of disappointment for anglers in this part of Canterbury. Just when rivers were getting into fair order after the heavy rains, the sky clouded over, and conditions were as bad as they have been for some time. Takes have generally been small, and the fishing altogether disappointing. The small streams within easy distance of the city are always worth a try, and a persevering angler can generally extract something from them, specially in hot weather after floods. The one or two days of really summery weather at the beginning of the week offered an opportunity that many anglers took, but the results were not particularly encouraging. The Cam has responded very well to a bully on odd days, and has in fact been the best of the near streams. One man returned from a night's fishing with a bully with a very nice basket of four fish, the biggest four and a half, and the smallest a pound and a half. They were in excellent condition, as the Cam fish generally are, but this is the best catch that particular man has 'had this season, and he has fished the Cam consistently. In the other rivers, the experience of two Christchurch anglers on Saturday evening is typical. They went to their favourite spot, and after doing j their best with an evening which might in its earlier parts have been made to order, returned with one trout of j about a quarter of a pound between them. The man who caught the fish has made a habit of returning fish this ! size to the river in more plentiful i years, but as this wi< actually his first ! tisli in five attempts this season, he ' had not the heart to do so this time. ; He made the excuse that anyway, he j might as well take scales and particu- . lars for flic Research Committee, an ! excuse that was received with some ; scepticism by his companion. j

Mention of scale readings reminds "Black Gnat" that the research committee is particularly anxious this season to get as many facts as possible on quinnat. From many of the rivers outside the Waimakariri and Rakaia the response to this appeal last year was disappointing. It is in the interests of anglers themselves to send in these particulars, which actually do not mean a great deal of work, and form interesting material for records which may be examined in years to come.

"Black Gnat" has for many years kept a diary of fishing, and it makes most interesting reading. The weights, lengths, and girths of the fish caught are recorded, as well as notes on the weather, bait, and locality. The section for this season makes very dismal reading, what there is of it, but a compensation is in being able to look back and recall evenings of plenty, in seasons when the-weather was a little more gracious. In common with the mouths of most of the Canterbury streams entering the sea. the Ashley in its lower reaches has been fishing well this year. It has not been the Ashley of the good old days, but has been a source of many good baskets for anglers who have been there. The fish have been running to good size, and several of more than eight pounds have been taken.

One Christchurch angler who decided to got well away for his holidays reaped a rich reward from the Cliitha. just where the Hav.ea joins it. He took 88 lish in three flays on a fly. the weights goinfi in most, cases round about three pounds. Fishing was uselo.-s in the daytime, but from dusk till about two hours after dark then: was a phenomenal rise, when the tisli took freelv. The best fly was a Red Waipahi. He lost a lot of fish in the swift water, and eventually ran out of his best killinK fly, but he had a most exciting three days, and enuuyh fishing to satisfy a modest an-'ler for a whole season. He also took an Atlantic salmon of about .V. pounds in excellent condition on a golden Devon. When it has not been too stormy to fish. Lake Coleridge has been a fairly Hood place. No Atlantic have been taken this season, but, brown, a few rainbow, and odd quinnat have been cautiht. The browns arc not in particularly «ood order, but as there tire some very iiifl ones in the lake fishing for them has been exciting. A curious tiling is that the qninnal. from the lake are very much better to eat than their cousins from the rivers. Th'lake fish have a delicacy all their own.

; PKIZK-WINNINt; (iAKDF.N ; ♦ I i Mr A. K. Haulicld, whose garden wim the C class .section in the recent competitions conducted by the Canterbury Horticultural Society, has consented to throw-his garden open for inspection on Sunday, February IH. Mr Had(ield's address is "To Wharekoa." 2fi Banks avenue, Shirley.